Author: Ashanti Major

The Enormous Radio by John Cheever is a story that contains various gothic elements. One of the elements that I noticed is gothic emotions that are extreme and gothic actions, such as acting irrational. In the story, Irene becomes obsessive over listening to the radio that Jim had bought her. Irene during the story faces extreme emotions of doubt about her own life. Whether or not she is truly happy in her marriage with Jim and if her life is as happy as she thought it was. The gothic element of actions is also prevalent. Being that she is thriving in her own negative and thoughts.

On the other hand, The Enormous Radio could not be a gothic story. My main reason for thinking so is because there is no abstract return to normalcy. Unlike other stories such as the lottery, where the characters literally murder their own friends and go about their day afterward, Cheever’s story is less dramatic. Irene at the end of the story attempts to return to her normal life after the events of the radio. Although it may be difficult and she wishes that she had remained ignorant of what had been occuring. Another factor might be where the story takes place, there are no daunting landscapes or locations in the story. The setting is on the scale of being more normal than the other stories that could be considered gothic.

1. One of the points I am noting is that gothic usually includes “a pushing of extremes and excess (cruelty, rapacity, fear, passion and sexual degradation” (Page 5)

2. The gothic often explores concepts of religious profanities, demonism, occultism, incest, etc. Which could be perceived as “the dark side of enlightenment free-thinking” (Page 6)

3. In gothic stories, extreme states and actions can usually correlate with fears and social anxieties which may stem as a reaction to concealed traumas and guilts that have been suppressed. (Page 6-7)

4. Setting in American gothic stories is oftentimes used as both a metaphor and the representation of itself (such as mountains). Landscapes were usually focused on the “inhuman and pitiless” of mountains, wastelands, etc. (Page 7)

5. American gothic stories usually showcase social, political, and class fears. For instance, some stories may include the general distaste of collective groups such as homosexuals, Indians, Asians, etc. (Page 9).

Out of all the short stories we have read in class so far “The lottery” has been my favorite by far. I was super excited when we were assigned this reading as a homework assignment. Mainly because I recall reading the short story my freshman year of high school, which was 5 years ago. I feel as if the story came as such a surprise to me both times reading it.

The introduction of the story does not seem nearly as dark as the ending. I think the story is different from what I am usually reading and the ending was a big plot twist. The author Shirley Jackson was very descriptive, I can envision the scenario taking place just by reading the words on the paper. I also felt it was really suspenseful, being that the purpose of the box and the lottery, in general, was not suspected in the slightest. It felt as if I was going into reading without knowing anything, or having the smallest clue to what will happen next. I think the most interesting about the story was how the lottery took place. Everyone in the small village gathered around, people that have known each other for years on end. People who may have complex relationships, children, wives, and husbands all gathered around in order to complete the tradition.

Another reason that this short story has been my favorite is due to the research that we had to do for another assignment. It was interesting to find out so many facts about the author that I did not suspect. For instance, the fact that she had a collection of witchcraft books and actively partook in the practice.

Overall I think the entire premise of both the author reflects in her work. Writing a story about someone being stoned to death by her own loved ones and close acquaintances is twisted in every way possible.